OAKLAND, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 13, 2008--After a maritime career that spanned four decades, including 27 years with Matson Navigation Company, Gary North, senior vice president, Pacific is retiring on April 1.

"Gary's contributions to Matson have been enormous and encompassed such milestones as the start up of our Guam service, formation of SSAT on the West Coast and automation of the company's hub terminal facility at Sand Island," said James Andrasick, Matson president and CEO. "Most recently, he has been at the forefront of the Hawaii Harbors Users Group (HHUG) in its efforts to address the need to modernize the state's port facilities. Throughout his career, Gary has been passionate about Matson and its people. That dedication has been reflected in all that he has done for the company over the years."

North's association with Matson dates back to 1967, when he started with the company as a cargo planner in Hawaii's freight department. In the 1970s and early '80s, he held management and later executive posts with Seatrain Lines and U.S. Lines. He rejoined Matson in 1987 as vice president, area manager, Hawaii. In 1989, he was promoted to vice president, operations, and transferred to Matson's headquarters, which were then in San Francisco. In 1991, he was assigned the additional responsibility of serving as president of Matson Terminals, Inc. He was promoted to senior vice president of Matson in 1993. He relocated to Honolulu as senior vice president, Pacific, in 2003.

"While Gary has made remarkable contributions to Matson's business operations, he is recognized equally for his tremendous compassion for community service," said Allen Doane, Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. chairman and chief executive officer and Matson chairman. "He has extended Matson's, as well as the A&B Foundation's, charitable reach in the Pacific to remote regions such as Micronesia and the Marshall Islands. Gary has done a tremendous job representing Matson in a wide range of community service programs in a heartfelt, genuine manner."

North's community service efforts have included posts on the Boards of the American Red Cross of Hawaii, Hawaii Food Bank and Aloha United Way.

North will continue to serve as chair of HHUG and will have a consulting role in various key initiatives involving Matson's operations in the Pacific.

Matson provides ocean transportation, intermodal and logistics services. Matson is a wholly owned subsidiary of Alexander & Baldwin, Inc. of Honolulu (NASDAQ: ALEX).

CONTACT: Matson Navigation Company
Jeff Hull, Public Relations, 510-628-4534
JHull@matson.com

SOURCE: Matson Navigation Company